Winding apparatus



Dec. 22, 1953 Filed Dec. 26, 1951 H. D. STEVENS WINDING APPARATUS vBY 3Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

Dec. 22, 1953 H. D. STEVENS 2,663,511

WINDING APPARATUS 7 Filed Dec. 26, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Dec. 22, 1953 Filed Dec. 26, 1951 H. D. STEVENS WINDING APPARATUS 3Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

BY 2% f m Patented Dec. 22, 1953 WINDING APPARATUS Horace l). Stevens,Sarasota, Fla., assignor to The f Firestone Tire & Rubber Company,Akron,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 26, 1951, Serial No.263,271

9 Claims. (01. 242-56) This invention relative to apparatus forcontinuously winding sheet material and more particularly to improvedapparatus capable of winding sheet material on successive spools withoutinterruption.

Apparatus according to the present invention is adapted to receive sheetmaterial such as calendered plastic film from a calender and to wind itinto rolls of the desired size without interrupting the operation of thecalender and the wind-up apparatus. The present apparatus, like thatdisclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 42,383, filed August4, 1948, has two wind-up spindles, one spindle receiving and winding thematerial while the other spindle, termed the stand-by spindle, is madeready to receive and wind the material when its turn comes in the nextcycle of operation. When the winding spindle is fully loaded, achangeover is made to the stand-by spindle which begins windingautomatically. During the changeover, there is a brief instant of timeduring which the sheet material is momentarily secured to both spindlesto place a portion of the sheet under tension. At this instant thestretched sheet is severed, and the winding proceeds on the new spindle.The other spindle is then unloaded and made ready for its next windingperiod of operation.

In the present invention the wind-up spindles are stationary, and thesheet material isfed onto one or the other of the spindles by transferrolls which shift their position to cooperate successively with thewind-up spindles. The transfer rolls have associated cutting means tosever the sheet in the manner described. The apparatus provides arugged, serviceable, and effective means of achieving the objects whichare set out in part below.

A general object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatuswhich enables a web of sheet material to be wound successively on eachof a plurality of wind-up spindles without interrupting the continuousfeeding movement of the sheet material.

A more specific object is to provide apparatus of the type describedwhich attaches the sheet material to the next successive wind-upspindleprior to or substantially simultaneously with the severing of the sheetmaterial to part it from the preceding wind-up spindle.

Another object is to provide wind-up apparatus Whose speed of winding ismaintained equal to the feeding of sheet material to the apparatus.

Another object is to provide apparatus which effectively controlsthesheet .material .being wound without creating sheet material.

Other objects are to provide apparatus which is rugged and simple inconstruction, which is dependable in operation, and which is easy toreloose, flapping ends of pair and maintain.

These and other objects and advantages will be more fully apparent fromthe following description of a preferred form of the invention,reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which: 7

Figure 1 is a sectional view of apparatus embodying the invention takenin the plane i--l of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken in the plane indicated by thelinesE-E of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic sketch of the mai parts of the apparatus ofFigure 1 in side elevation showing the sheet material being wound on 1ceiving a continuously moving, plastic sheet it from a calender, notshown, and winding it into rolls of the desired size on a pair of fixedwindup spindles I2 and it. The apparatus feeds the a sheet material to aspindle until a roll of the desired yardage has been wound thereon andthen Without interruption of the winding secures the sheet to the otherspindle and severs it from the first.

The sheet is delivered to the spindles by a carriage indicated generallyat M which is vertically movable into positions of delivery immediatelyadjacent the two spindles. ries a transfer frame 55 having a pair ofrolls it and i7 mounted thereon which engage the sheet to the wind-upspindles in a manner to be described and also a pair of cutting knivesi8 7 and M which sever the strip when the transfer is made from onespindle to the other.

The transfer frame I5 is mounted on carriage [4 ma manner which permitsit to be rocked forwardly so that the transfer rolls l8 and I? can pressthe sheet into contact with the wind- The carriage i i car- 1 3 upspindles and so that the cutting knives I8 and I9 can sever thesheetafter the transfer is made from one spindle to the other.

The operation of the carriage and transfer frame and their associatedparts can be best understood by reference to Figures 3-6, inclusive,which diagrammatically illustrate the mode of operation. In Figure 3'thecarriage I4 is shown in position to deliver sheet to thelower wind-upspindle I3, the sheet passing through the carriage,

over transfer roll I1, and then downward about? guide roll 20 to bewound on the spindle I3. Dur-.

ing normal winding, as in Figure 3, frame i5 is in its retractedposition. When spindle i3 is: full and the winding operation is tobetrans ferred to spindle l2, the frame i5 is rocked for-- wardly to theposition of Figures, inwhich position the transfer roll I! presses thestrip intocontact with an adhesive-coated, cardboardacore-z i mounted onspindle H2. The sheet is momentarily stretched taut between-spindles. i2and: I3; and, then in the last increment of forward motioni of theframe, knife [9 severs the sheet The roll, it

and knife I9 are thus so mountedon-frame. [5,as to produce a slightinterval between their times of operation.

As winding proceeds on spindle I 2, frame is retracted away from thespildle l2 into carriage It, and the carriage then moves downwardly to theposition of Figure 5 inreadinessto, transfer the winding operation backonce again to spindle E3. The sheet isshown inFigpreB as passing throughthe frame. l5, around. the transfer roll it, over guide roll 22, andthen finally to thespindle I2. When the winding is complete onspindleI2, frame. l 5,- is. rockedforwardlyto the position of Figure=6, atWhichtime the upper transfer roll it; presses the, sheetvv againstanother adhesive-coated, cardboard core,

2! on spindle l3, and an instant, laterv knife l8.

severe the stretched sheet. Frame I51 is then retracted and the carriageIi movedupwardly. to the position of Figure 3 ready tobegimits cycle ofoperation once again.

The carriage or frame. IA, is supported for. its.- reciprocatingmovement by a. supporting struc.-.

ture indicated generally at 2,5,, which includes. a..

pair of I vertical, cylindrical posts 2,6 and. 21-, see Figure 1,whichare supportedby suitablabase. members 28 and which areconnectedatthetop bythe tie rods 2.9.and 39 and cross braces. 3| and 32.A. framework 3.4.013. structural; members supports the associatedequipment...

The carriage itself comprises.a.p.airv of iden.- tical side. members35r-and 3G, see.:Figure..2,-.,con. nected by. a plurality, ofv tie rods.3]. which. are; secured to the side members.bysuitablebrackets- 38;Cross bracestfi. may, be. provided. to. add:v rigidity. The carriageissupported between and. movable along the. supporting. posts. 2B..and 2:1by a set of four guide rollers d2 which roll along the. postsandwhichare concavein section to conform closely. to the cylindricalsurfaces. of the; posts. The carriage may, ifdesired, have collars:secured thereto which would embrace..the;.posts.- and serve to guide thecarriage movement.

Thecarriage I i. is movedto, its transfer posi-. tions adjacent thewind-:up, spindles I2. and. [33. by, means of a chain andsprocketdrivemecha.-. nism, which includes. chainsv 4.3.- trained about.

upper drive sprockets. 44: and: lower. idlingz.

sp roc lgets Q5, The carriage is, connectedto the frgnt halvesof the,chains..by brackets-.46;. and

f the carriage counter-balanced.

on the opposite side of the sprockets. The drive sprockets 44 aremounted on shaft 48 driven by a motor 49 and a speed reducer 50 throughgears 5i and 52. Drive shaft 48 is journalled in suitable bearingssecured to the posts 26 and 2?, and the motor and speed reducer aresuitably supported as by the bracket 56.

As-the carriage;moves from-one transfer positionto-another, an actuatinglover or finger 51 secured to the carriage actuates limit switches 69and 61 which are positioned in the path of travel ofthe .finger andwhich control the power to the reversing motor 49. The motor will tendto overtravel:somewhat,.and;the carriage is driven past theslimit'switches a slight amount until it comes in contact with the stops 63 onthe base, which determine its; lowermost position, and the stops 64,secured to the posts 26, which determine its uppermost position.

The transfer frame I5 gcomprises a pair of side em wv 65; o he shape:shown. F ural 1 hiQ 23 I QnI Q by he. e; bars whi h. so ave he u tio mfsupp rting; the cuttin n ves se F gu 2.- he ansfe l 6: nd

Il are journalled in a position in bearings-which re u p r d. y oi pr ns: 67;. s e. Fi ur h-.p rmit her lls' t yie dlwhen th ir c ntact; h W li- 1 ind es, h s. yi ldin movement. f o ls. rmi s th n hee 0'@ .e:.presed1into dh siv n a em nt Wi h-the. w ndvun. s n es sli h l fore the knv s-reach the r. cuttingnos r ion. rov d n for thes iehtfiima lay re ered: toabove;

. The rame. i5issunrcflcd forits'roclsin rmova ment by pa rs fjnaralll,.cranlsarms;.lilsasshowna n insures. 1: and; 2.. which. have pivo ansagee. mentwith the frame. as; at. i]: and, which are: secured. at. 12fQIy rotation. with; rock shafts. l3i x ndmg acr stheu a iaga.

Theframe is rockediinto: andiout of; itstransr. fer positionbyrotationofthe shafts, ia'bymeans. of. a rack and pinion arrangement;bestshown iniFigure 2,. comprising. a; pair of; vertically, re.-.-.ciprocajole racks 75.: which; have. sliding move-. ment within apair ofguides 16 and which. are. given their. reciprocal 1 movement. by. a.hydraulic. motor-indicatedat; Hz. Eachof the. shafts 13-. havesegmentalpinions.T8zsecuredzthereto having engagement. with the. racks.Thesegmental mmons. have. an. arcuate extent; of. about. degreesto.provide: the; required rocking. moves. mentaofs-the frame.

Itwill .bernoted from Figure flcthat the. strip ii it enters. fromi a.calender'or. other. sourcerof esupplye atthe left; not; shown;passes-through. a. coma pensatingdev-ice; indicated generally at. 8i},-and thempasses through".theicarriageito the windl up spindles. Thecompensator 89 acts as a control means for: regulating the speed of:the= wind-up spindles withrespect. toithecalender. speed; com

pensating bothafor. variations in rate. of=- productionioi .the.calender; andin .the.increasing-periph eral speed of the; wind-suprolls. as.- the material is stored on the spindles. The compensator;compr sesthepairs; ofl,ii i sed-.guide,rollsj and 82 n in a. Qe1r.-0lls.8 3-;which;have.vertical :move-. ment, within, the channel,members. 8.4; of: the. frame; Thedallccr-rolls;arecounterbalanced by. anarrangement: comprising chains the .idling; sprockets 86 and 8? and:counterweightsa. 88; controimeans, not.'shown, israssociated withthedancer. roll'; and: is. responsive: to: the movementv thereof;- t0.- ru1ate= the; speed: of: the. windeup. pindles, Thus if; the. winde'up;spindlesare drawine .thei-sheet faster than.thei.calencler=can supplyit, the dancer roll will move upward, and

the control means will then reduce the spindle speeds. Thecounterbalancing of the dancer roll makes it sensitive to any change inthe relative speeds of the calender and the wind-up spindles.-

The cycle of operation is primarily under the control of feeler gageswhich measure the buildup of sheet on the winding spindle. These gageseach take the form of an idling roller 95 mounted on a pivotal arm iiiwhich is normally urged into contact with the spindle. As the sheetbuilds up on a spindle, a pivotable arm such as iii in contact therewithwill rotate outwardly to actuate a limit switch 92 and associatedcontrol circuit generally indicated at S and comprised of apparatusreadily available and familiar to those skilled in the art. The arms 9ithereby control the operation of hydraulic motor 'i'l. At this time themotor i! will operate the racks to rock the transfer frame forwardly tomake the transfer of sheet between the spindles, and then return it toretracted position. The motor :29 then will move the carriage to itsnext position where it will stand ready to make the next transfer.

It should be noted that the transfer of sheet material from one wind-upspindle to the other is accomplished by first securing the sheetmaterial to the empty spindle while it is still winding on the firstspindle and then cutting the sheet while it is stretched between thespindles. It will be appreciated that the stretching of the tough,plastic sheet between the spindles facilitates the cutting thereof bythe knives. The transfer is positive and eliminates any danger of losingcontrol of a loose and flapping end of sheet material. The apparatuswhich performs this function is simple and dependable. It needs no fineadjustment, nor does it require any high precision of construction.

Various changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the artall within the scope of the invention, the essential features of whichare summarized in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for continuously winding :5 eet material, comprising aplurality of fixed windup spindles, a carriage movable to positions or"delivery adjacent said wind-up spindles, said sheet passing through saidcarriage before winding on said spindles, means mounted on said carriageto press the sheet passing therethrough into adhesive engagement withone of said spindles while sheet is still winding on a second of saidspindles, and a knife mounted on said carriage operable subsequent tothe engagement of said one roll and said one spindle and adapted tosever the sheet momentarily stretched between said two spindles.

2. Apparatus for continuously winding sheet material, comprising aplurality of fixed windup spindles, a carriage movable within a supporting framework, a source of continuously moving sheet material, means todeliver said sheet material to said wind-up spindles at a substantiallyconstant tension, means to move said carriage to positions of deliveryadjacent said wind-up spindles, means mounted on said carriage andoperable intermittently to press the sheet into adhesive engagement withone of said spindles in each of said positions of delivery while saidsheet is still winding on another of said spindles, and a knife mountedadjacent said spindles adapted to sever the sheet stretched between saidtwo spindles subsequent to the engagement of said sheet with the saidone spindle.

- 3. Apparatus for continuously winding sheet material, comprising aplurality of fixed windup spindles, a carriage movable within asupporting framework, a source of continuously moving sheet material,means to deliver said sheet material to said wind-up spindles at asubstantially constant tension, means to move said carriage to positionsof delivery adjacent said wind-up spindles, means mounted on saidcarriage and operable intermittently to press the sheet into adhesiveengagement with one of said spindles in each of said positions ofdelivery while said sheet is still winding on another of said spindles,a knife mounted adjacent said spindles adapted to sever the sheetstretched between said two spindles subsequent to the engagement of saidmaterial and said one spindle, and means responsive to the build up ofsheet material on said spindles to control the cycle of operation ofsaid carriage.

l. Apparatus for continuously winding sheet material, comprising aplurality of fixed windup spindles, a carriage movable within a supporting framework, a source of continuously moving sheet material, meansto move said carriage to positions of delivery adjacent said wind-upspindles, a frame supported by said carriage, means to move said frameforwardly to position adjacent said wind-up spindles to move said framerearwardly away from said. spindles, means mounted on said frame topress the sheet into adhesive engage -ent with one of said spindles whensaid frame is moved forwardly while said sheet is still winding on asecond of said spindles, a plurality of knives mounted on said frame,one of said knives being adapted to sever the sheet stretched betweensaid two spindles sub.- sequent to the engagement of said material andsaid first-mentioned spindle.

5. Apparatus for continuously winding sheet material, comprising aplurality of fixed wind-up spindles, a carriage supported by and movablewithin a supporting framework, a source of continuously moving sheetmaterial, means to move said carriage to positions of delivery adjacentsaid wind-up spindles, a frame supported by said carriage, means to movesaid frame forwardly to a position adjacent said wind up spindles and tomove said frame rearwardly away from said spindles, a pair of guiderolls mounted on said frame and disposed parallel to said spindles, andknives mounted respectively above and below said guide rolls, said sheetpassing between said guide rolls and partially around one of said rollsbefore winding on one of said spindles, said one guide roll beingadapted to press the sheet passing around it into adhesive engagementwith a second of said spindles when said frame is moved forwardly whilesaid sheet is still winding on said one spindle, the one of said knivesmounted ad jacent the said one guide roll being adapted to sever thesheet stretched between said two spindles subsequent to the engagementof said one roll and said second spindle.

6. Apparatus for continuously winding sheet material, comprising a pairof fixed wind-up spindles, a carriage supported by and movablevertically within a supporting framework, a source of continuouslymoving sheet material, means to move said carriage to positions ofdelivery adjacent said wind-up spindles, a frame supported by saidcarriage, means to move said frame forwardly to a position adjacent saidwindup spindles and to move said frame rearwardly away from saidspindles, a pair of rolls mounted on said frame and disposed parallel tosaid spindies, and, a. pair of: knives; mounted: respectively above :andbelow saidgrolls, ,saidlsheetcipassing be-- tweensaid: rollsandpartially around oneof. said; rolls before winding on: one:of. said:spindles said one; roll being adapted to presathe. sheet pass ing'aroundit into adhesive engagement WiflliLthQ, other of said spindleswhen; said 3 frame: is move 51 forwardly while-said sheetisstillwinding; onxsaid: one spindle, oneof said knivesbeingmountedwadjacent the said one guide rollandzbeing adapter-l to sever the sheetstretched: between said: two spindles subsequent to the engagement of:said? one roll and said; other: spindle".

'7. Apparatus for continuously, winding; sheet: material, comprising apair of fixed. Wil'llrlli): spindles, a carriage supportediby'andcmovable. vertically within a supporting framework, a source ofcontinuously moving; sheet material, means to-move-saidcarriagatdp'ositions-of de; livery adjacent said wind-up spindles, a;frame supported by said carriage;. means; ta move, said frame forwardlyto a position adjacent: saidwind up spindles and to move-said framerearwardlyaway from said spindles. a pair, of. guide; rolls mounted onsaid frame andzdisposedparalle to: said' spindles, a pair of.kniveamonntedrespec tively above vandhelowsaid-guide rolls, said sheetpassing: between said guide rollsv and; partially; around one of said:rolls: before; winding: on: one: of said spindles, said one guideroll-being'adapted. to press-the sheet passing around-it into adhesiveengagementwith the other ofisaid spindles when said frame is moved;forwardly whilesaid: sheet-- is still winding on' said: one spindle; theknife" mounted adjacent thesaidronezguide roll: being. adapted'to severthe sheet: stretched between.said 'wo spindles subsequent:totheengagement: of. said. one roll and saidntherispindle and means.responsive to the build. up" of. sheetmat'erial on; said spindles tocontrolthecyole of operationof said carriage and frame.

8. Apparatus for continuously-winding sheetv material,v comprising avpair of fixedwind-up; spindles, a carriage supported by and: movable:vertically within a supporting framework, a. source of continuouslymovingsheetrmaterial;.a? balanced compensator adapted to: deliver said:sheet material throughsaidzcarriage and? tossaid.

83-2 wind-up :spindles at a substantially-- constant. ten= sion, .means.t0-move said carriageto. positions. of: delivery adjacent:saidzwindi-up; spindles, a rockable frame. supported by.- said.carriaga, means to rocksaid frameforwardly to. a osition adjacent saidwind-up spindles and. to rock said frame rearwardly away from. said.spindles, a pair ofr-esilientlymountediguide' rolls mounted on saidframe. and disposed parallel to said. spindles,. a pair; of, knives:mounted: respectively above. and. below-said guide rolls, saidsheet'p'ass-ing between: saidguide-rolls and partially aroundzoneofsaid. rollsrbefore winding; on one of-v said. spindles, said. one.guide rollbeing; adapted to? press the sheetpassing around it. into:adhesiveengagement with the. other ofsaid: spindles,- when' saidframe.- is. rocked forwardly whilesaid' sheetv is still; winding;on-saidonespindle, the'saidknife mounted adejacentsthesaid. Qnaguideroll being adaptedto: sever the; sheet stretched.- between. said two:-spindlessubsequent to the: engagement of said: one-roll: and said otherspindle, and-means-responsive to the-buildup ofisheetmaterialonsaidspindles to controlthe-cyole=ofoperation of saidcarriage-andframe;

9: The. method-0f,- continuously; winding plastic: sheet materiaL. whichcomprises leading. said sheet .material betweena. pair of. guides,winding; said sheet on a fixed-axis,.and, while winding on said axis,moving said-guides-adjacent a second, fixed wind-up axis tobring said.sheet adjacent thereto,,securing said sheet'to said second axis forwindingthereon and momentarily tostretch said. sheet .tautbetweenzsaid-axes, and thereafterv i severing, said stretched and.tautened. sheet at a point between said; axes.

HORACE D STEVENS.

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